Remind Congress it works for us

Members of Congress went home on Feb. 15. That meant, for us on Cape Cod, Sens. Warren and Cowan were somewhere in Massachusetts, unless they went to a warmer place. Our representative, William Keating, was also around.

By BARBARA LEEDOM

capecodtimes.com

By BARBARA LEEDOM

Posted Feb. 27, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By BARBARA LEEDOM

Posted Feb. 27, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Members of Congress went home on Feb. 15. That meant, for us on Cape Cod, Sens. Warren and Cowan were somewhere in Massachusetts, unless they went to a warmer place. Our representative, William Keating, was also around.

They work for us. "We the people." But they spent a mere, a puny, 10 days in session in the month of January. They did not return to D.C. and the squabbles and snickers and silliness we've grown accustomed to expect of our elected officials until four days before March 1.

This is outrageous. It's selfish. It's against the will of us, the people who elected these people.

There's something we the people can do about the people we elected to start the work they were elected by we the people to do. Hound them. Call and email and text them. Demand they put their neckties and neck bows on and buckle down.

Yes, all of ours are Democrats and so side with the president on his agenda. Even if you don't agree with the Democratic bills waiting to be passed and the president's nominations waiting to be filled, that doesn't mean our men and women, all elected but Cowan, shouldn't be back there toiling at their congressional desks, talking to Republicans, trying to understand what those who disagree with them think and want.

They can save a lot of time not talking to Republicans, who they know will say "no" to any and all Democratic proposals. Those people flat-out won't. Won't what? Won't pass any bills, sign any legislation, won't even talk to their Democratic colleagues because they signed a pledge. It appears a pledge to a man who helped elect them via the almighty dollar is more important than passing bills into law and confirming a new secretary of defense.

It's outrageous, and we the people should tell our senators and representatives how outraged we are.

According to govtrack.us, about 10,000 bills and resolutions are in Congress in each two-year session. About 400 are passed.

Currently there have been 50 resolutions passed in this, the 113th Congress. This seems like a lot until you see that time was spent passing resolutions congratulating the Baltimore Ravens for winning the Super Bowl, designating Feb. 4-8 as National School Counseling Week and commemorating the 150th anniversary of Kansas State University.

There are 1,253 bills and resolutions pending in committees. They affect health care, education, military spending, foreign relations and birthdays and anniversaries and congratulations.

When Congress reconvened it had four days before March 1 to get vital legislation passed, or all those automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration (why?), kick in. There are no exact numbers now, but it's certain thousands of jobs would be lost in Massachusetts. U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, in a report on Feb. 15, estimated 60,000 jobs would be lost in our state alone. Outrageous.

Appointed by Gov. Patrick to fill John Kerry's Senate seat until the special election on June 25, interim senator Cowan will have as much power as a three-day-old opened bottle of ginger ale. So getting stuff done is up to Warren in the Senate and Keating in the House. They have websites and advisers and phone numbers and offices. It's up to us, the voters, the American people who elected them, to urge, cajole, entice, demand action so that the country doesn't collapse.

Gridlock in Congress is nothing new, but when it's there because of pledges and lobbyists and fear of not being re-elected, it's dangerous for the rest of us. It leads to mean spirits among our officials. It's embarrassing and makes America look like a bunch of misfits who get stymied by petty regionalism and party politics.

Gridlock is as gritty as sandpaper, as distasteful as old beef, as outrageous as what's going on right now. It's time we told them so. We don't have to holler or swear or be mean. We just have to tell Warren and Keating what we want them to do for us, their constituents, we the people.